The
Wild animals that were shown at the Colosseum were displayed
as either clever circus acts where
animals had been trained to do
tricks or they were destined for
death in the arena. Animals such as
zebras and ostriches were trained to
pull chariots.

Ultimately their own death when the wild animals were
fought by the gladiators, or used as targets in staged
animal hunts, but they were also put in the Colosseum to
attack and kill defenceless prisoners. The more exotic the
animal, the better the fight and the better the quality of
the 'games'

Wild Animals at the Colosseum
- Symbol of PowerThe Romans loved a
spectacle and they loved to be surprised. Showing exotic and
strange wild animals provided Romans with novelty and also
demonstrated the power and extent of the Roman world. These
wild animals originated in all parts of the Roman Empire and
conveyed the extent of the lands that had been conquered by
the Romans.

List of Wild Animals at
the ColosseumA massive selection of wild
animals were transported from their natural habitats to be
slaughtered at the Roman Colosseum. The very architecture of
the Colosseum allowed for tall animals such as giraffes to
pass through the tall gates of death. The following list of
wild animals shown at the Colosseum is not exhaustive but
will provide an indication of the sheer numbers and types of
animals which were shown.

Wild Animals at the Colosseum
- Extinction of Wild AnimalsThe inauguration
games in 81AD at the Roman Colosseum, lasted for one hundred
days and during this time over 9,000 wild animals were slaughtered.
During just one festival in 240 AD a staggering: 2,000
gladiators, 70 lions, 40 wild horses, 30 elephants, 30
leopards, 20 wild asses, 19 giraffes, 10 antelopes, 10
hyenas, 10 tigers, 1 hippopotamus and 1 rhinoceros were
slaughtered. So many wild beasts were killed in
the Colosseum and other Roman arenas that some exotic animals became virtually
extinct. The Hippopotamus were captured from the River Nile
in Egypt but following the Roman era they disappeared from
this habitat. Many of the great wild animals from Africa and
Asia such as elephants, lions and tigers were hunted to the
point of extinction. Entire species of animals disappeared from their native
habitats. And the Great Auk (Pinguinus impennis), the
European Wild Horse (Equus ferus), the Aurochs (Bos
primigenius primigenius) and the Eurasian lynx became
extinct.

Wild Animals at the Colosseum
- The Animal TradersThe trade in wild animals
was highly lucrative. Animals were sourced from the far
reaches of the Empire especially Africa, Egypt and Asia. The
natives of these areas would have captured and caged these
animals. The animals would then have been sold to animal
traders who arranged for their transport to Rome and also to
other amphitheatres throughout the Roman Empire. The animals
were then delivered to the Beast Masters.

History of Wild Animals at
the Colosseum - Ludus MatutinusThe display of exotic wild
animals were an important part of the games. Originally the
wild animals appeared as trained animal acts or to replicate
hunting exploits. The types of animals used for these
hunting shows were wild boar, bulls, bears deer, stags,
dogs, wolves, goats and antelopes. These shows were called
called venationes and the animal hunters were called
venatores. The venatores were trained at a special training
school called the Ludus Matutinus. The term Ludus Matutinus
originated from the Latin for 'morning school' as the beast
shows were originally scheduled as morning events at the
Roman Colosseum. The Ludus Matutinus, or 'morning school',
was established by the
Emperor Domitianwho was himself a great hunter. A Lanista was in charge of
the training at the Ludus Matutinus Training school and
procuring the animals.

Wild Animals at the
Colosseum - The VenatoresThe venationes or hunting
shows were shown in a variety of different formats. Herds of
wild animals were let loose into the arena and were
slaughtered by archers. Emperors who wanted to demonstrate
their hunting prowess and safely participate in the shows
would join in this type of hunt. The venatores would hunt on
foot or on horseback. To provide the audience with more of a
spectacle great stage sets were used creating hills and
using trees, bushes and packs of hounds to give an
impression of reality.

History of Wild Animals at the Colosseum
- The Emperor Commodus
The
Emperor Commoduswas infamous for his exploits in the
arena. Such was his prowess in the slaying of wild animals,
that he once pierced an elephant with a pole, pierced a
gazelle's horn with a spear and and was able to kill mighty
beasts with a single blow. It is said that he engaged in 735
gladiatorial bouts. Commodus then ordered the Romans to
worship him as a second Hercules based on the fact that he
had killed wild beasts in the amphitheatre.

Wild Animals at the Colosseum
- The Bestiarii (Bestiarius)The Bestiarii was the term
given to those gladiators who fought Wild Animals at the Colosseum.
These gladiators had their own school as did the other gladiators and had their own traditions, professional
slang, weapons and uniform. Both slaves and volunteers were
trained to fight with wild beasts. The schools were called
the scholae bestiarum or the bestiariorum.